Divinity Professor Gives Chapel Address

By Rachel Bender | December 7, 2012

Comparing the struggles of early missionaries Paul and Silas to those of Christians today, Dr. Estrelda Alexander, visiting professor of theology in Regent University's School of Divinity, spoke at university chapel on Wednesday, Dec. 5.

"[Paul and Silas] were doing what they usually do," she said. "They were going into the cities." What they faced, though, was intense opposition. In modern society where Christianity faces increasing opposition, Alexander said, Christians need to be careful that they don't assume an attitude of superiority. "How can the world change if we're still the same?" she asked. "Everywhere we go, we have an agenda and we think we are called to represent God and we are the only ones who can represent God."

She cautioned the audience against thinking they could make an impact on their own. "You need to be educated, you need to have some resources," she said. "But if you rely on those resources to do God's work, you've missed the point."

As so many different people vie for allegiance today, she said, there is one person who deserves it. "The Bible says that we are the people of God," she said quoting from Psalm 103. "We're not Republicans, we're not Democrats; we're not liberal, we're not conservative; we're not rich or poor. We're His people."

Referring to the recent presidential elections, Alexander urged the gathering to stop thinking in terms of earthly allegiance because it has created great divisions even within the church. "If you think you lost it all in the last election, your allegiance is in the wrong place," she said.

The problem, she explained, is that it's no longer become a question of right versus wrong. "If we're honest, it's not about preserving the dignity of God. It's about fear of losing what we have."

Ultimately, she challenged everyone to consider how they react when things don't go as they'd envisioned. "Every nation rises and falls, she said. The question becomes how will we live [if we're not] on top."